Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-06-10
CAPT. WEATHERBY'S GIFT.

Iing-a-ling rang the door-bell at
Capt Wetherby's. The captain and
his wife were sitting in front of the
coal fire IN the back parlor, waiting till
1t should be safe to leave. and seeing
many queer things in the glowing ash
es. The "help"-they do not keep SER
vants-had gone TO bed, and the house
was shut up for the night. No one was
Expected, and it was too late for callers,
so there was mutual start of alarm
on the part of the pair when the door
bell rang in that sudden way.
Ting-a-ling- a-ling a-ling- a-ling!
1t was quite ghostly. Mrs. Wealth
erby said:
Mercy me, who is there, do you sup
pose?"
Like as not it's a telegram, replied
the captain.
Then he went to the door. The wire
of that indigant bell was still vibrating,
and the tongue itself had just stopped
wagging. and yet when the captain
opened the door. not soul was visible.
The soft, light flakes of the last snow of
the season drifted into his face, and fell
cold and wet on his cheeks. Mrs.
Weatherby was close behind, and ex-
claimed:
Mercy me!H lit was nobody"
"Not even the cat" said her hus-
band "Old Prim can do sight of
mischief. but she can't ring door-bells.
1t was some pesky boy, suppose, who
thought he d play smart and then run
for it.
Whats that on the door-Step?' ask
cd Mrs. Weatherby, suddenly.
Its a drift said the captain. II
tell you what Mary, thcre'll be a
nor easter to night. nor east by nor !,
with wind that II make the sails rat
tie. It's getlin' up now" and he drew
in his uncovered head, and was about
to shut the hall door.
There is something down there, ST.
las" sad his WIFE right on the top
step. Looks just like a big bundle.'
The captain peered out again.
'lt's right YOU are my hearty. Sure
as YOU live it's basket and he touch
cd it with his foot.
'Oh, it's the groceries for to-mor-
row; that careless boy forgot them. Nc
wonder he ran away when he rang the
bell Fetch 'em in, Silas, and leave
them in the back parlor tonight. Han
nah will see them the first thing in the
morning.
Better take them into the caboosc-
mean the Kitchen said the captain.
mo; it's locked mp. Put 'em on
that chair by the door. Ugh. I'm
shiverin' with the cod air, and the
good woman sat down in front of the
comfortable coal, again.
We've heap To be thankful for,
Mary 81 Il The captain thoughtfully.
"Y-e :, pose so, sighed his wife;
she was thinking just then of two little
graves at Marblehead. They had been
made nigh on to twenty years ago, and
the vacancy in her heart and life had
never been filled.
At that moment queer little wailing
cry rang through the room. The two
started and looked at each other.
"Sakcs alive, Why what was that?'
asked Mrs. Weatherby.
at came out of that basket said
the captain; that fool of a boy has
been and slowed a hand in the TO cas-
tle-I mean kitten" and he stalked
over to it and jerked off the cover.
"By the great horn spoon" he ex.
claimed. as he jumped back about four
Feet; it : II BABY"
Mercy me- said his wife; Where
Hid it come from?'
From the skies, | should say: that +.
what the bell rang for. Well, | must
say this * an imposition"
Mrs. Weatherby was looking curl
ouNly into the basket; all she saw was
"ags two bright smiling eyes, and a
title round head covered with dark
ha.r-a wee bit of baby, deserted anc
alone.
I'll 90 for the police" said the cap
tain angrily "shiver my timbers if
I'm going to have people starving their
babies on my doorstep when there S
places provided for them as are desti-
.utc. The pol &c Will make short work
Of it, Mary.
They won't kill it, will they?" ask
ed kind Mrs. Weatherby in a mortified
tone.
well. No, wife; that's against the
aw. But they'll take it where such
waves Che meant waifs) belong. If
you ain t afraid to stay alone I'll ru n
out TO the next corner and fetch one.
When the captain returned with the
policeman he had to stop to explain the
rxact spot where they found the basket,
now the bell had rung, etc, and so it
was a full hour or more before they got